Harry’s Hollywood dream is about to d!e – unless they do one thing
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reunited with David Foster and Katherine McPhee (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a smart move last week. Following reports of fizzling friendships and fading brand deals in the US, the couple proved that they’re still well connected after touching down in Victoria, Canada. Pictured at the David Foster Foundation’s 40th anniversary celebrations on Friday, the Sussexes posed for photos with their long-time friends, David Foster and Katherine McPhee.
Confirming that they still have high-profile friends in Hollywood and beyond, Meghan and Harry’s red carpet appearance proved that they haven’t burned all of their bridges just yet, despite ongoing speculation that the Clooneys, Beckhams, Oprah Winfrey, and more stars had begun to distance themselves. After the event, Katherine, who actually went to school with Meghan, shared several photos of herself and her husband, David, posing alongside the couple on social media.
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Meghan and Harry are shutting down the reports that they’ve lost A-list friends (Image: Getty Images)
In terms of personal branding, one of the biggest problems faced by Meghan and Harry these days is the notion that they’ve lost their footing in Hollywood. Following their move to Montecito, the pair appeared to have endless opportunities just waiting in the wings. Meghan and Harry had landed a Spotify deal (reportedly worth $200million), joined Oprah for a tell-all interview, and Meghan even had her very own podcast, Archetypes.
Jump forward to 2026, however, and the Spotify deal is well and truly over, and Meghan’s podcast was cancelled after just one season; business decisions reportedly made after the Sussexes failed to meet “productivity benchmarks” (via The Wall Street Journal). On a slightly more positive note, Meghan and Harry still have Netflix, although its star power appears to be dimming with the streamer, too.
As of this year, With Love, Meghan, has not been renewed for a third season, and the company has ceased financial support for Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, though Netflix stated that the latter was a mutual, pre-agreed arrangement made with the duchess. Adding to their wave of challenges, Harry’s docu-series, Polo, received negative reviews and failed to secure healthy viewership figures.
The couple needs to retain a sense of status within the world of media (Image: Getty)
Basically, what all of this speaks to is a downward spiral for the Sussexes. With multi-million dollar deals disappearing, and reports of a smaller inner circle, Harry and Meghan need to pivot, and fast. As shallow as it may sound, the two need to cement themselves as relevant and high-profile figures if they want a fighting chance at keeping their future projects alive. What it comes down to is staying in the public psyche and having a worthwhile and loud enough voice in the zeitgeist.
Without the Royal Family, Meghan and Harry need to prove that they can make it in America on their own, and let’s be honest, in the business of show, a lot of that can come from an A-list inner circle and celebrity endorsements. If Meghan and Harry want to maintain Archewell’s strong deal with Netflix and produce films and TV shows people are willing to watch, they have to make sure they’re keeping some friends in Hollywood. If any more of them turn their back on them, the Sussexes are risking becoming the latest ‘has-beens’ with zero star power, and with the royals still keeping their distance, that would truly be game over for them.